Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to presenting a case to the International Criminal Court to bring charges against President Mugabe for genocide and crimes against humanity.

Zimbabwe is not a party to the Rome Statute so the International Criminal Court (ICC) has no jurisdiction over events which have taken place in that country.

For the ICC's Prosecutor to be able to initiate an investigation in these circumstances either the Government of Zimbabwe would have to voluntarily accept the ICC’s jurisdiction, or a referral from the UN Security Council would be required.

Under the Rome Statute the Security Council can only refer a situation to the ICC; it cannot refer the case of any specific individual.